Thousands of cakes have been delivered to doorsteps across the north of England during Ramadan – helping raise £80,000 for charity – thanks to a Bradford man’s moment of inspiration.

A chance remark by Sibbat e Noor, a 21-year-old law graduate, ofFrizinghall, led to the chocolate fudge and Black Forest gateau cakes being delivered over the past three weeks.

The idea also helped raise £80,000 towards Islamic Relief’s work helping victims of the Syrian conflict.

Sibbat, a volunteer with Islamic Relief, decided that it would be ‘a piece of cake’ to help victims of the conflict in Syria – via cake.

And the idea has also been a resounding success across Blackburn,Bolton, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield.

“I can’t believe it’s been such a success, I had no idea people in all these northern cities would like it so much,” says Sibbat, whose uncle, Tariq, supported him to go ahead with the project.

“All from me saying ‘save a life with a piece of cake’.”

Sibbat’s idea has caught on rapidly via social media under the hashtag #Cakes4Syria. The cakes have been arriving on people’s doorsteps during the holy month of Ramadan, which started on July 9 and ended yesterday.

Sibbat said: “Each cake cuts into 14 slices, which is way too much for one person breaking their fast. The idea is that you buy the cake to share, and because the money is going to Syria that adds a wider charitable element to the sharing.”

The cakes have been provided by Bradford wholesaler Seafresh, which is run by Sajad Hussain – another enthusiastic Islamic Relief volunteer.

The project also ran in some areas of the south-east in the final week of Ramadan and raised £1,500.

Islamic Relief has assisted more than 1.1 millon Syrians since the start of the two-year conflict – 800,000 inside Syria and the rest in neighbouring Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.

The charity is providing food, shelter and medical care for victims of the conflict – including support for 30 field hospitals and 60 clinics around the country.